Las Vegas Bowl to air on ABC, conflict with Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

The Las Vegas Bowl (no more MAACO) will air on ABC this year, game organizers announced Thursday.

The game will be played at 1:30 p.m. MT Saturday, Dec. 21 — two hours before the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Boise State has won the past three Las Vegas Bowls, which features the top choice from the Mountain West and fifth choice from the Pac-12.

The bowl has been played on ABC once before, in 2001. That game — Utah-USC — remains the highest-rated game in Las Vegas Bowl history.

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ESPN added 15 Mountain West games to its TV schedule Thursday, including the four remaining Boise State games that it owns. However, times and TV assignments won’t be determined for most games until six or 12 days before kickoff.

This batch of games — including Boise State’s dates with Tennessee Martin, Southern Miss, Wyoming and New Mexico — can air on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or Web-based ESPN3.

Times and TV assignments for early-season games may be determined in advance.